Balaïtous, Granite summit at 3144 meters in Hautes-Pyrénées, France.
Balaïtous is a granite summit in the High Pyrenees at 3,144 meters on the France-Spain border. The climb features steep rock faces with a diagonal traverse that demands careful footwork and hand placement on exposed terrain.
The peak was first climbed in 1825 by surveyors Pierre Peytier and Paul-Michel Hossard during a mapping expedition. Their ascent marked the beginning of documented mountaineering activity on this border peak.
The peak marks a natural frontier between France and Spain, where climbers from both nations gather to share the mountain experience. This border location gives it special meaning for mountaineers who value crossing international divides on foot.
The full climb takes around eleven hours covering about 21 km with roughly 1,950 m (6,400 ft) of elevation gain from the Plan d'Aste parking area. Starting early in the day is essential because the technical rock sections demand careful movement and slow your pace.
Climbers must pass through a rock passage called Brèche des Ciseaux, named for its distinctive scissor-shaped stone formation, before reaching the Michaud shelter near the summit. This memorable gateway showcases the remarkable granite architecture that defines the final approach.
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